The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

MY RATING: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire my most anticipated movie of 2013 and I am very glad that it was able to live up to the hype and the expectations of the film. I thoroughly enjoyed the Hunger Games book series written by Suzanne Collins as well as the first film instalment. The film effectively summarised and showcased the essence of the book. Francis Lawrence directed the film really well. Many of the scenes throughout the movie were spot-on and were as emotional as it is in the book. Despite being a little rushed and choppy at times I am happy that the film has a good progression throughout and that it was able to express the gravity and intensity of the plot. I am also very glad that Lawrence removed the use of shaky camera which was one of the criticisms of the first film. 

I am also as impressed by the film's casting as I was watching the first film. The cast portrayed the characters very well and many of the characters in the film - including Finnick, Mags, Beetee, Wiress and Gale - were very similar to how I imagined them while reading the books. Jennifer Lawrence did an amazing portrayal of Katniss and really showcased her acting skills in this film. She managed to bring across the characters emotions and thoughts through her expressions in a very impactful way - a reason why she deserves the accolades for her remarkable acting.

However, I am a little disappointed the film did not spend a sufficient amount of time in the arena, which is what many fans are most looking forward to in the film. I do understand that the focus of the second film has to be on the uprising and rebellion and that it has to be a prelude to the last book on the uprising but it would be much better if there were more screen time for the events in the arena. 

In all The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has improved upon its predecessor and it is a must-catch for anyone who has read and enjoyed the books.